The Perceived Usefulness of Virtual Reality for Disaster Preparedness among Older Adults

Abstract

This paper explores the perceptions and potential behavioral intention of older adults in using a virtual reality (VR) game (All Hazards) for disaster preparedness. A user-centered experiment was conducted at sites in Brooklyn, New York, and Atlanta, Georgia. Twenty older adults participated in the experiment across both locations. Results indicate that the game effectively enhanced their overall perception on ease of use, especially in areas related to learning and skill development. It also suggests a clear trend toward increased comfort and confidence in using All Hazards, with the greatest improvements seen in participants’ confidence and sense of learning. Participants showed greater confidence in their technological abilities after the experiment. Overall, participants perceived the game as easy to use and felt that their learning and gaming skills had improved through the experiment. Future work is discussed at the end of the paper.